Hyderabad's sun shining bright

If the Indian T20 League were a drama, the Sunrisers Hyderabad would be its standout artist. For, at the start of the season, only the optimistic fan would have given the team a chance of holding its own in the league. However, at the end of the league stage, that optimist's opinion stands vindicated.

At the start of the 2013 season, the Hyderabad outfit had their backs to the wall. Having undergone a change of ownership, the Sunrisers were the latest entrants on the league's circuit. Though the franchise had retained the major chunk of players from the Deccan Chargers, it did not help that the previous team had managed a sluggish second-last finish in 2012.

To make matters worse, the Chargers had an abysmal record at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal -- the team's home. In the three seasons (2008, 11, 12) that the Chargers played at Uppal, they had managed only three wins. But the Sunrisers wasted no time in overturning that record, as they now sit pretty with six wins in seven games at home --with the final match at Uppal scheduled for Sunday against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Though the Sunrisers started their brush with the league on the back of a victory against PWI at home, it was far from convincing. The batting appeared to be brittle, but their bowlers bailed them out.

But the team has always found a solution. When the Sunrisers meet KKR for their final league game, it will be a case of completing what has been an impressive run by qualifying for the playoffs. A win will seal the deal, while a loss could bring the equation down to net run-rate.

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.

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